PERRY, Iowa – Looking beyond Iowa even as he fights for traction in Tuesday’s caucuses, Gov. Rick Perry is pitching himself as the only conservative candidate who can go the distance in a national fight for the GOP presidential nomination.

Americans “are ready to take this country back,” Perry told a packed ballroom at the Hotel Pattee in this town northwest of Des Moines that shares his name.

He got an enthusiastic reception as he touted his limited-government, strong-military, American-exceptionalism message on the eve of his first test in the presidential race he launched with such high expectations in August.

“We definitely approve of him and everything he has to say,” said Nancy Shirbroun of Bayard, who attended the rally with her husband.

At an earlier stop in Sioux Falls, the governor looked far downfield as he responded to a question from a woman who noted diplomatically that he’s “down in the polls a bit.” She asked Perry how he can win over Republicans who want to vote for the most electable candidate.

“This is ….. let’s say, mile one of the marathon,” Perry responded. “We’re the only one in that race that has those proven conservative values, that has the statewide organization in Iowa, but more importantly has a national organization, has the ability to raise the money, to go all the way through, and then stand on the stage with Barack Obama.”

Attacks on Santorum

Perry has been courting evangelical voters who might also be attracted to former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who has enjoyed a late surge in polls, or that of Michele Bachmann, whose support has flagged.

He has focused his fire on Santorum in interviews, speeches and advertising, calling him among other choice terms a “serial pork-barrel earmarker” who’s unelectable. Santorum has noted Texas’ efforts to get federal funds and said if seeking earmarks is wrong, “Rick Perry was hiring lobbyists to fleece America, then.”

Perry also addressed concerns that arose over his debating ability after a series of faltering performances, mistakes and gaffes on the stump helped drive down his poll numbers. A new Public Policy Polling survey showed him in fifth place with just 11 percent, ahead of Bachmann but behind Newt Gingrich. Leading the group were Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Santorum.

Another gaffe

Perry acknowledged that he “may not be the best debater” but said he was eager to go toe-to-toe with Obama: “We will expose him for the fraud that he is every day. I look forward to that.”

For those worried about his gaffes, the Sioux City stop may have added a bit of concern. In criticizing Santorum over earmarks, he relocated the so-called “Bridge to Nowhere” project from Alaska to Arizona.

But his argument about the long haul resonated with Bryan Stocking, 51, who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“To me, Perry’s the one that’s got legs,” said Stocking, of Sioux City, who said he also grew up a “farm kid” – like Perry, the son of tenant farmers. “When I look at Bachmann, it looks like she’s on a dead horse now, and the same thing with Santorum. He ain’t got no money, so he just can’t go very far. You look at Perry, and he’s got the executive experience also. I’d be happy with any one of those three, but when I go tomorrow I’ll be voting for Perry.”

‘Just beginning’

Perry has put a lot of resources into Iowa, spending at least $3.9 million on advertising, according to the Associated Press, and touting a strike force of hundreds of volunteers from Texas and other states who are working to turn out supporters.

He was accompanied by his family and, at various stops, by businessman and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes; Govs. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Sam Brownback of Kansas; former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, who was the only survivor of a 2005 Afghanistan battle; and former Marine Capt. Dan Moran, who survived heavy fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Several state lawmakers, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Comptroller Susan Combs also came from Texas to help.

“He has a chance to regain heavy momentum,” said state Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who appeared with Perry and has been making calls to supporters on his behalf.

Forbes noted that a Des Moines Register poll released late Saturday showed 41 percent of GOP caucus-goers said they could be convinced to change their mind by Tuesday. He cited similarly undecided voters in New Hampshire, a state where Perry is polling poorly.